I just bought a set of Stoney Point chamber gauges that are used to measure case length to a datum line on the shoulder. I immediately set to measuring cases recently fired in a .243 788 Rem I just bought.

It didn't surprise me that cases fired in this 788 measured 5-6 thousandths longer (base to datum line/shoulder) than some new Winchester brass I bought. I FL sized some of the brass I had fired from this gun, then measured it again. I was surprised to see that according to the measurements my FL sizing die was resizing the neck but didn't bump the shoulder back at all.

When I sized the next piece of brass, I watched to see if the shellholder was making full contact with the bottom of the die, and it is. I removed the primer punch to eliminate the possibility that drag from it was stretching the brass back out. Still no shoulder bump. I even replaced shellholders in case the one I was using was perhaps out of specs by a few thou.

These once-fired, resized cases will chamber in the gun, but the bolt closes considerably tighter than on the new brass, so I'm convinced that my die isn't bumping back my brass at all and that after a few more firings this brass is going to be dangerously tight.

Am I overlooking something obvious, or do you think I somehow have an oversize .243 die? It's a Lee die, a brand I've used with good results for many years.

Sand the bottom of the die on some emery paper, send it back to lee or throw it away.

It's possible that the rifle has excessive headspace also.

Feel the inside of the cases near the base with a coat hanger wire with a little hook bent on it. If there is a ring inside thats significant throw the case out.

I'd not alter the die. I'd focus on shortening the shellholder's height. That can be done easily and should you "screw up",shellholders are much cheaper than dies............

I would ask Lee first. If you alter a shell holder (later), mark it good! Otherwise you will use it for other calibers and create a dangerous situation where case head separation might occur!!

Hermann

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Or turn the die in until it touches the shellholder, lower the ram and turn the die in another 1/16th turn. This will compensate for any stretching in the press frame.

Good luck,

Eddie

I agree with Ed..you want a little press "spring" when you full length resize...the die shouldn't "just" contact the shellholder..it should require a little pressure...

Thanks for the ideas, guys.

Setup on this die calls for it to be screwed down to touch the shellholder, then given another 1/4 to 1/3 turn down. When that turned out to not set the shoulder back enough, I turned the die down a bit more and really leaned on the press handle, assuming that a little muscle might give me the extra few thousandths needed to bump the shoulder back. Neither tactic made any difference at all, as my initial setup was giving me all the sizing possible with the die and shellholder at their current specs. When those two steel parts meet, they don't give much, and I think I could stretch the press as far as I wanted and it still wouldn't make any more difference.

For all it is worth, I had a Lee die in seven mag, get stuck on every stroke. No matter what lube I used. I was so mad; I started clamping it directly in the vise. You should have seen it when I sent it back to Lee.... Any way, I went to the closest distributor and got a RCBS X die. It was like stroking my...... SMOOTH>>>>> I did send the Lee die back, they replaced it no charge, told me to use Lee lube. I have never chucked that set of lee dies up again... Don�t get me wrong, I use allot of Lee dies, good price, good product...

(BUT) Sometimes you can�t keep kicking a dead horse.... There is something wrong with that die... Let Lee make it right for you...

My Two cents isn�t worth that much, you can bet I have made a lot of mistakes that cost more....

I had the same problem with a set of LEE 7.65x53 dies. I sent them back and they shaved the base but it still wouldn't set the shoulder back. LEE said they made all of their dies that way. Only the neck and head are resized. If you want the shoulder pushed back you need to get another brand like Lyman or RCBS. After careful measurements I determined the die lacked .020 in from contacting the shoulder. Rather than alter the shell holder, I fashioned a shim which I slid under the base of the cartridge while in the shell holder. This raised the cartridge by .020 and gave me proper dimensions.

I ran into this same problem when I bought a used/like new set of older RCBS 222 dies WITH #10 shellholder. Even screwed down to touch the shells still wouldn't chamber. When by the local RCBS shop with dies/shellholder and rifle. Smith tried it no luck. Then I went over and looked at a new shellholder that was cut different on top. Plugged it in and walla, it's fixed. Tossed the old #10 and everything works great. I think I'll start looking for an old blade feeler guage set at the next flea market for some of my other less cooperative setups.

RJS